In one of the few positive side effects from the fears over the severe acute respiratory syndrome, which boosted sales of kimchi because of the pickled vegetable's rumored effectiveness in preventing the virus, the kimchi export sector will see record shipments of their goods this year, statistics released by the Korea International Trade Association projected.

According to the tally, $30.33 million worth of kimchi products were exported between January and April this year, breaking the four-month period record which was made in the same period last year by a 38.4 percent margin.